"Is he in there?" said Guard Captain Ventus impatiently.

Jori craned his neck to look at his superior.

"It's hard to see through the vapors, sir, but I believe that's Quick."

“Well, then, let’s go inside and get him.”

The doorbell chimed merrily as the two guards entered the shack that posed as a bar.

“Welcome to the Cross-Eyed Cluck-Duck! Would you like something to drink?”

Captain Ventus ignored the compact bartender in a dirty apron by the counter, and strode up the corner table, cigar smoke swirling in his wake.

“By decree of our regent, Lord Aelar Eirey, I’m placing you under arrest!”

The big man put the teacup to his lips, closed his eyes and sighed contently. “That is just heaven!”

“Excuse me,” said Jori. “Did you not hear him? Let’s move!”

“Move, yes, nothing stands still, even the rock of the sleeping mountain is moving. You look thirsty,” Quick said and waved at the bartender. “Two cups for my friends here. And take your finest porcelain; these are the king’s men!”

The guards looked at each other and then down at their white eagle insignia on their tabards. It had been a long time since someone gave them the respect they deserved for being the country’s most loyal servants. Also, the day had been a stressful one, and a steaming cup of tea did sound very nice.

“Please have a seat; you look exhausted. Are you hungry too? I just so happen to have a box of freshly baked honey-crumb cookies.” Quick pulled out a partially crumpled papyrus packet. “I’m sorry, I must’ve sat on it on the way here. But I assure you that the cookies are most delicious – here, allow me to help you.”

The guards looked at each other again and then sat down at the table. The big man handed them each a golden cookie, dripping with honey. After digging through his many pockets, he pulled out two napkins and tucked them into the collars of the guards.

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Jori took a bite and instantly lit up. “They taste like my granny’s honey-crumbs!”

“Your granny must’ve been a special woman then, young man. I’ve only shared this recipe with a select few!”

Captain Ventus grunted and nibbled on the cookie. Jori smiled and pulled off his helmet. He had patrolled these streets for half a decade, and never ventured inside any of the bars.

“Tell me, gentlemen, have you ever tried the famous Buru-nuru tea?” Quick said and poured them a cup each from the kettle.

The smell was a combination of freshly cut grass, fir needles, and peaches.

"The nuru herb is harvested by the monks of the Buru Highland near Lake Everfrost,” Quick said and took another sip. “The tea is known to relieve stress and ease cramps.”

Captain Ventus lifted his cup hesitantly to his mouth and took a small sip, swirling the tea in his mouth. It had a crisp citrusy flavor, but it was far from sharp and had a velvety, creamy aftertaste.

"Relax and let the gentle touch of the tea massage your insides."

“I’ve been so stressed out lately,” Captain Ventus confessed after silently enjoying half of the cup. “This is exactly what I needed.”

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his neck. Finally, he pulled off his helmet and placed it next to Jori’s.

“Ah, according to tradition, one is to share a recent hardship while enjoying a cup of Buru-nuru. It enhances the taste and lightens the heart.” Quick helped himself to another cookie. “I have been traveling far and wide across our land, gathering the relics from an old tale. The cities of this world all look the same as when I first visited them a lifetime ago. I worry that they will stay the same until the last of my days.”

Quick ran his thick fingers over the table, and the two guards nodded appreciatively.

“Both my granny and my mother suffered from the shivers,” Ventus said. “I’m starting to reach that age myself now… the fear of not being able to hold my sword steadily… it keeps me up at night.”

“A steady arm is a blessing but not a necessity,” Quick said, nodding gravely. “A steady mind is far more important.”

Jori took a deep breath and nodded as well. The three men carefully contemplated what had just been said.

“There is a girl. Her name is Breeze.” Jori said after a while. “She lives in one of the finer houses along my patrol route. Sometimes I hear her laughing when I walk by – it is the most wonderful of sounds – and it fills my soul with sadness because she’s too far beyond my reach.”

“To win a woman’s heart is one of the toughest quests a man can take upon himself,” Quick said. “But remember that a quest never starts until you brace yourself and set out to complete it.”

The men drank their tea in silence, each locked in deep thought. Quick was the first to break the meditative state and lifted the kettle.

“Can I offer you, gentlemen, a refill?”

Both of the guards nodded and held out their cups.